There is a fine line between genius and insanity. Question not The Witch, for her genius will dazzle you into insanity.

- Andanian Chronicles

The guards blanched as they eyed the mismatched trio marching straight towards their position. To the uninitiated, the massive multi-handed golem looming over the disheveled girls would have clearly been the most threatening figure. But these were men charged with defending the Emperor’s court and they were wise enough to recognize the slender princess at the fore, despite her ragged, blood drenched appearance.

“Honored princess, how may I assist you?” The captain of the guard bowed politely while remaining at a safe distance.

“Greetings!” Lily smiled brightly as she finally noticed the guards, “I am here to acquire Xerxes.”

“Honored princess, the royal court is currently in session. Perhaps you would prefer a more private appointment with the Emperor, later this evening.” He suggested tactfully.

“Ahh… I forgot about that court thing. That’s where he plays catch with his minions, how many people has he killed already, today?” Lily sighed.

“The Emperor’s temper has improved significantly since he returned from the battlefield. There have been no fatalities today, just several wounded.”

“Great.” Lily beamed, “It seems that my magic had a beneficial effect on his personality. So, it’s time to move on to the next phase!”

The captain wisely refrained from asking any unnecessarily dangerous questions, “Honored princess, Saadian court etiquette requires that all supplicants be properly attired before presenting themselves before the Emperor. I will have to ensure that you are somewhat presentable before you appear before him.”

“A new dress,” Lily mused absently as if she had just noticed the shocking state of her attire, “That would please me… do you have anything that would complement my hair? Perhaps something with a tint of crystal blue, the color of the waves…”

“Of course, honored princess, I will summon the royal tailor immediately. Meanwhile, please allow me to guide you to the nearest private bathhouse.” The captain bowed respectfully.

“Another brilliant suggestion,” Lily nodded agreeably, “I hadn’t had the opportunity to freshen up in days.”

That wasn’t so bad. The captain thought silently to himself as he escorted the dangerous witch away from her imminent confrontation with Xerxes. “Honored princess, we have cleared this bathhouse especially for you, please feel free to enjoy it at your leisure.”

The witch smiled, with an expression that would have appeared completely innocent, had it been anyone else. “I’m so ever grateful, Captain. Please allow me to gift you with a humble token of gratitude for your kind assistance.” Lily’s slender hand clamped like an unbreakable vice around his arm before the horrified soldier could flee.

“I… I appreciate your offer,” Moments of his relatively uneventful life flashed before his eyes as the trembling captain shuddered uncontrollably, “But I did not do anything worthy of…”

“Oh, but I must insist! What would Mother even think… I must…” Lily hesitated momentarily as she pressed her other hand against the sudden flash of pain throbbing through her forehead. “I’m sorry,” She smiled kindly as the moment of discomfort passed, “Now, where was I? Oh, about your reward… how about…” Her pronouncement was more chilling than a death sentence.

“Teacher Lily!” Naomi dashed to the rescue before the witch could bestow her ‘reward’. “You are embarrassing the poor Captain. It violates Saadian custom to accept any rewards from a personal guest of the Emperor.”

“Oh?” Lily blinked as she released her terrified escort, “I knew that, didn’t I?” She giggled to hide her confusion, “I didn’t mean to insult your customs kind Sir, I’m such a ditz. Teehee.”

“Thank you. Thank you for saving me.” The pale faced soldier bowed gratefully before Naomi as they finally exited the bathhouse.

“Shhh… not so loud.” Naomi hissed even as she activated a warding talisman, “You must immediately inform the Emperor that his life is in danger! Investigate the dungeons, the witch plans to…”

“Naomi dear, won’t you please help wash my back? I can’t seem to find elder sister… And please stop conspiring with that kind gentleman outside, I’ve never hurt anyone! So, stop worrying!” Lily called out lazily.

“Coming!” Naomi forced a cheerful tone back into her voice as she shoved the solider away to safety and strode bravely back into the lair of the witch.

…

“This better be very important.” The Lion of Saadian growled as he eyed the gathered archmages within the heavily warded chamber.

“Divine Emperor. We are in complete agreement. The evidence is indisputable. We must act to neutralize the Andanian witch before her condition deteriorates any further.” Archmage Sotil advised calmly.

“Lies! You’re all just conspiring against her because you fear her overwhelming Talent!” Xerxes fumed with silent frustration.

“Emperor Xerxes. You must have noticed the signs, that her condition had deteriorated significantly ever since we returned from the battlefield, especially since you are also cursed with a similar ailment.” Methuselah murmured.

“She managed to stabilize my condition somehow! You are the most accomplished Talented in all of Saadian. Can’t you just examine what she did to the magic on my body and perform a similar ritual to cure her?” The mightiest man begged as tears gathered his eyes.

“Unfortunately, your request is far beyond our abilities. We still barely understand the modifications she made to the glyphs carved into your body. And even the most perfunctory examination demonstrated that the magical force responsible for preserving her current mental state is significantly more complex. Attempting to restore the lost magic within her would be like asking a common blacksmith to repair a defective Antikythera mechanism.” Sotil bowed regretfully.

“Do something! I command it!” Xerxes roared in anger as his fist pummeled through the splintering armrest beside him.

“If we preserved her body with stasis magic, perhaps the rate of deterioration will decrease…” Methuselah suggested hesitantly.

“You would rob her of what little time she has left by pinning her like a butterfly in a preservation case?” Xerxes growled with a low threatening tone as he glared at the nervously sweating archmage.

“Divine Emperor, our options are severely limited. She is suffering from an unknown form of magically induced mental degradation, and if her personality suffers from a critical meltdown, we would not be able to guarantee the safety of any citizen in Riyadh. Would you prefer a repeat of the series events that cumulated in the death of the former Emperor?” Sotil answered curtly.

“Unacceptable!” Xerxes bellowed in frustration.

“Her affliction is unprecedented, and it is difficult to determine the precise moment at which complete mental breakdown will occur. Tonight, might be our final opportunity to ensure her safety.” Sotil counselled as he placed a small clear vial before the emperor, “Make her drink this somehow, it will calm her mind and ensure that we will be able to restrain her without pointless violence.”

…

“Strip.” The stark-naked child huffed with red-faced humiliation as she finally managed to shed the final traces of her unexpected polymorphy.

“Haven’t you learnt your lesson yet?” Aryan lectured forbearingly, “Say please and I’ll… Strip? Wait, what? You want me to, what!?” He spluttered with disbelief.

“Take off all your clothes… Please? Don’t make me beg…” Luscious fiery red locks of waist length hair fell gracefully across her shoulders, barely obscuring her childish curves. The sway of her hips was almost seductive as the panting child advanced towards the flustered prince.

“Laura…” Aryan gulped nervously, “Maybe later, when you get your body back…”

“You’ve already groped my helpless naked body for an entire hour!” Laura pouted, “I can’t take it anymore, so stop playing around!”

“I didn’t…” His face flushed with embarrassment, “But you were a puppy. A puppy!”

“And so?” She remained undeterred, “After all that humiliation you put me through, don’t tell me that you have changed your mind? Take responsibility!” His tunic crinkled between her delicate fingers as she latched onto him before he could retreat.

“You are a child, Laura. Stop this immediately.” Aryan admonished.

“Just a child? What are you even talking about?” Laura dismissed his refusal shamelessly, “I’m a witch, just in case you still don’t know. I’m super-duper experienced at this, and I’m all grown up inside, so just relax and let me do this immediately!” Her confidence faltered as she finally noticed the disgust etched on his face, “Please… I must do this. I promise to be super gentle, so it won’t hurt one bit. I’m definitely better at this than any mortal.”

“You’re just a kid. Maybe in another ten years.” He answered gruffly.

“Ten whole years!?” Laura groaned, “That’s like in forever! And this is an emergency!” Her eyes narrowed calculatively, “You weren’t so distant while I was a puppy, so if it’s just because of my appearance, I can easily turn back…”

“No, I do not prefer puppies!” Aryan cut her off with an angered growl.

“There must be something you want, anything. Some desire, some secret fantasy. Speak and I’ll grant it.” She offered tentatively.

“I’m sorry Laura,” Tears streaked down his cheeks as he crushed the bewildered child in a tight embrace, “It was my fault that you became like this. I promise, I’ll find some way to turn you back to normal.”

“Urp!” Her cheeks reddened as her bared chest pressed against his crotch, “Wha…att are you do…ing…” She stuttered, “This is… I didn’t give you permission to…”

He knelt before her in one swift motion and locked his lips against hers before the wide-eyed princess could continue her protest, “I love you Laura. I just want to help you get back to normal.” He whispered tenderly.

“Lo…vve? You wha…att? Are you underestimating me? I might be small, but I’m still a witch of Andania!” She huffed as she shoved him away and rubbed furiously at her lips.

“There’s nothing, I want more than this.” Aryan replied calmly, as the trembling child wilted beneath his deep hazel gaze.

“If you’re really, really serious about helping me…” Laura mumbled bashfully, “Strip. Take off your clothes. I need to do this… please?”

“This isn’t right.” The prince complained bitterly as he disrobed reluctantly.

“Don’t worry, I am very super experienced at this…” Her snicker trailed off into a suffocated gasp of shock as her gaze was drawn to the semi-hardened member between his legs.

“Well, what are you waiting for? I’m not sure how this is related, but let’s just get this over with…” Aryan grumbled as he sat the stunned child against his loins.

“Pervert… lecher… pedophile! Super unforgivable! I offered you anything, and this is what you settled on?” Laura gulped.

“Huh?” The baffled prince frowned, “But you are the one that insisted?”

“I… But I didn’t… Hey! Stop rubbing me down there, it feels super weird… And I can’t… I can’t hold it in any longer...” She moaned as she arched her back and the carpet beneath them darkened as it was stained with her involuntary secretions. Tears of pent up despondency overflowed the shimmering crystal blue of her eyes, “You even made me pee in the library. Ugh, this horrible humiliation… I’ll never be able to recover my chastity…” her delicate shoulders shook as she sobbed against his warm broad chest.

“Laura? What’s wrong?”

“Everything's just so wrong!” She trembled indignantly, “I’m a witch. Are you insane? I’m dangerous, and I could level a tower or squash an entire company of knights with a single spell. But instead of asking for great power or endless wealth, like all the others… the first thing that enters your perverted mind is to… is to… Arrgh!” She cried out in embarrassment.

“I don’t care about any of that.” Aryan declared, “You promised me anything. So, I want you Laura. All of you.”

“Erms, even if you say that… this is just TOO SUPER SUDDEN!” Laura protested, “I know that you’re an eager Male in heat and all that, but can’t you please wait for me to at least regain part of my memories or something? Or do you have some sort of pre-school fetish?”

“Good, I’m glad that you finally see things my way.” Aryan grunted as he lifted the child and sat her down to the side, “Let’s revisit this issue in ten years.” He turned away from her as he began shrugging back into his robes.

“WAITT! Why are you putting on your clothes? I haven’t had the chance to…” Laura protested.

The prince sighed, “What is it now? Didn’t we just agree to wait? Get dressed, you shameless exhibitionist!”

Her mouth gaped open and shut repeatedly as she was momentarily lost for words. Then the child let out a small chagrined scream as she sprung towards her fallen dress, “You saw…” She glared accusingly at the prince, “Everything.”

“I’m not blind, Laura.” Aryan smiled wryly, “But don’t worry, there wasn’t much to see anyway.”

Her face contorted momentarily with self-righteous ire, as her gaze wandered temptingly towards the pen and paper at the nearest table. But her anger was chased away by an expression of complete resignation, “I understand.” She twiddled her fingers with bashful apprehension, “I promise to grant that wish of yours when I get a little older. So, could you please remove your clothes now?”

Aryan sighed, “Laura. What’s with you and your perverse fascination for my naked body?”

“Per…verse? Me?” She spluttered, “I just need to examine that magic on your body. I etched that defensive enchantment, didn’t I? Maybe I can regain some of my memories by studying it.”